Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the creation of the Public Safety in Ohio State Parks Working Group. This initiative aims to evaluate the provision of emergency services across the state's 76 state parks. The formation of this working group follows a veto by DeWine on a state budget provision intended to force the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to reimburse local governments for emergency responses at South Bass Island State Park without additional state appropriations.
According to a statement from the Governor's office, DeWine has tasked the group with a comprehensive review of the demands placed on emergency services by the popularity of these natural havens. "We certainly recognize that the popularity of Ohio’s state parks can result in more emergency calls and higher expenses for surrounding communities," Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said. This action comes as a response to concerns from local authorities about the financial strain that park-related emergencies put on their budgets.
The working group co-chairs, Andy Wilson, Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, and Mary Mertz, Director of the ODNR, will lead a collection of officials from various emergency services and community organizations. The list includes names like Lt. Colonel Pat Brown from the Office of Law Enforcement at ODNR, Eric Burns, Chief of EMS at Tri-Village Rescue Service, and representatives from police departments, the state highway patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard, and more.
The first public meeting for the group is scheduled for November 18, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., the venue being the Ohio Department of Public Safety in Columbus. As stakeholders in Ohio's natural resources and public safety policies gather, discussions will revolve around the fiscal and operational impacts of state parks on the emergency services apparatus in Ohio. The move signals a careful balancing act, recognizing local concerns while also managing the intricate web of state funding mechanisms.
Details of the working group, its objectives, and its members were released by the Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and are available on the official announcement. Stakeholders and invested Ohio residents will be following the working group's proceedings closely to see how the state's response to these fiscal challenges will evolve.
